I have a creature with an ability drain attack. How do you describe the drain effect in a fluffy way ?
The physical ability drains can result in fading muscles, muscular spasms, looking overtired, older, or anaemic. Do you have other examples?
WI, CHA and INT drain are not so easy to describe. CHA drain can result in some deformations but that is only a part of CHA. WI maybe results in 'confussion'. INT drain ... mh i need help :)
Regards,
Eridan
I usually see Wis drain as a loss of sanity (upon hitting 0 Wis you're supposed to roll for insanity) and a dimming of the senses (lower Perception). You're less down to earth and more prone to flights of fancy and living in your own little world.
Cha drain may not necessarily make you uglier, but it WILL make you less assertive, less persuasive, and less likely to take the initiative in social situations. Cha is, first and foremost, your force of personality, not your appearance. Cha drain may leave you a very pretty, but completely socially awkward person.
Int drain is the most obvious one. You're dumber. Loss of focus, worse memory (lower Knowledge skills), difficulty picking up new skills, that sort of thing.
Physical ones are really easy to describe.
Str drain reduces your muscle mass before people's very eyes. The muscular Barbarian turns into a scrawny, almost childlike man with a big sword and ill fitting armor.
Con drain can result in sickliness, somewhat of a loss of appearance (sallow and unhealthy looking skin, pimples, and so on), and maybe the appearance of some sort of (non-mechanical) disease, like a persistent cough or the like.
Dex drain makes you clumsy and uncoordinated. You move with less grace and become fumble fingered, dodging poorly in combat and unable to balance on all but the simplest and least dangerous types of ledges.